Indonesians protest at Myanmar embassy over persecution of Rohingya Muslims

Indonesia: Hundreds of Indonesians, angered over the persecution of Muslim Rohingya in Myanmar, have protested outside the Myanmar Embassy in the Indonesian capital.

Representational image. AFP

Jakarta police spokesman Awi Setiyono said at least 200 people joined the demonstration Thursday. They marched in three groups to the embassy, which was guarded by dozens of police, and staged a noisy but peaceful protest.

The protesters, many of whom wore traditional white robes, held big banners reading, "Stop genocide against Muslims in Myanmar," and shouted "Save Rohingya."

High-definition satellite images analyzed by Human Rights Watch show the destruction of some 1,250 buildings in five Rohingya villages in Rakhine state, where the military is carrying out counter-insurgency operations.

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, is a strong supporter of the Rohingya cause.